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Subject: [MIHOUGHT] Osceola Mine Fire
Date: 27 Jun 2002 14:39:47 -0600

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I thought I should post these two articles in case any of these people are related to anyone.

The Native Copper Times
September 10, 1895

"The Osceola Fire

Thirty persons perish underground

Between 11 and 12 o'clock Saturday Capt. Edwards smelled wood burning while making his way to No. 3 shaft. Capt Edwards sent word to the men to all go to surface, and then proceeded to make his way to the north of No. 3, the shaft in which the fire started at the 27th level. Finding all clear north he went to surface to get hose, and was returning to go underground, when one of the men on surface asked him to wait a minute and he would go with him to help in carrying the hose. That wait saved the captain's life, as just as he was to go down the skip came to surface with several men in an exhausted condition. There were some 67 persons in the neighborhood of the fire, 37 of whom came to surface, while 30 or 31 have met death to the mine.

Below are the names of the unfortunates who are known to be underground, all of whom have, without doubt, perished.

Alex. Daniell, Wm. Briant, John Cudlip, Thos. Curtis, Rich. Grenfoll, James Harrington, Anton Tueswick, Frank Landers, Jr., Robt. Johns, Peter Mahlestrom, Joseph Rassetz, James Williams, Wm. H. Donald, Barney Heiner, Rich. Trenbath, Pete Strangard (boy), Mich'l Johnson, Rich. Bickle, Fred Reardan, Michael Schutte, John Matsou, Walter Dahl, Andrew Rosotski, Joe Slota, Michael Slota, Steve Ristoway, M. Polchak, Michael Volga, Issac Harro, V. Verbonitz- making 30 in all.

To see the wives and families of the unfortunate is indeed heartreading, and the calamity is one that will not soon be forgotten. It is the most terrible mine disaster in the history of the Lake Superior mining district.

That more did not escape, doubtless, due to the feeling said to exist among employes underground in the Osceola, that a fire endanging life in the Osceola was not possible; some remarking that there was not timber enough in the mine to make a good bon fire. This feeling of security, it is feared, has largely been responsible for the fearful loss of life, resulting in the rendering of many homes fatherless, and casting a gloom over the entire copper district.

Several attempts have been made to go down No. 5 shaft, but in vain, and now we are informed it has been decided to close Nos. 2 and 5 shafts-with a view of created a down shaft in No. 4 shaft, in the hope that parties may then be able to go down No. 4. Column upon colum might be written upon heroric efforts that have been made or attempted to uscertain the wherabouts and condition of those underground, but the result can be told in few words, all efforts thus far have been fatile. This a. m. we learn that all the shafts of the Osceola mine were sealed yesterday afternoon, and beneath those seals are the bodies of 30 human beings-fathers, brothers and sons of those who shall see them no more in life. It is too terrible and heartrending to contemplate and is a blow that seems to be almost too heavy to bear.

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